Fire-proof building



(No Model.)

E. M. BUTZ.

FIRE PROOF BUILDING.

No. 304,780. Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

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EDWARD M. BUTZ, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-PROOF BUILDING.

GPECIIE'ICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 304;,780, dated September 9, 1884.

Application filed December 13. 18F3. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Y

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. BUTZ, a citizen of this United States, residing at Allegheny, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in FireProof Buildings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification; in which-like letters indicating like parts Figure 1 is a section in perspective through portion of a floor and ceiling of a fire-proof building embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a similar section, showing a different construe tion of the arch; Fig. 3,. a similar section, on an enlarged scale, through one of the skewback tiles; Fig, 4. a similar section,on an enlarged scale, through a portion of a hollow-tile arch and Fig. 5, a section through a portion of a floor and ceiling,showing a modification in the connection of the arch and girder.

My invention is an improvement upon that for which Letters Patent of the United States 'No. 223,275, were granted and issued to me under date of January 6, 1880; and its'object is to provide improved facilities for the pro tection of the metallic members and the connection of the arches, flooring-beds, and ceillugs.

The improvements claimed are hereinafter fully set forth.

I11 the practice of my invention I employ,as sustaining-members for a fire-proof floor or ceiling, a series of metallic beams or girders, A, the ends of which are supported in the walls of the building in the usual manner, and I completely inclose and protect the same in and by non-combustible material, in the man ner presently to be described. The specific form of said girders does not per se constitute part of my present invention, as any approved section may be employed,so long as it is found to present the qualities of sufficient strength and lightness. It is, however, essential in the application of my improvements that there should be combined with each girder, on one or both of its sides, (according as said girder is next to a wall or intermediate between walls,) a skewback or skewbacks of metal, so inclined relatively to the axis of the girder as to form proper abutments to receive the end-thrust of and support an arch sprung from one to an adjacent girder. selected for illustration in the drawings, in which the skewbacks constitute portions of the webs of the girders, is one of a series devised by me properly adaptable to use in the structure herein described, as well as to other and different applications, and is set forth in a separate application for Letters Patent by me filed December 13, 1883, Serial No. 114,429. (Case B.) In the instance shown, askewback or inclined abutment, a, is formed upon the lower portion of one or both' sides of each of the girders A,by outwardly inclining the webs of the girders,which, continuing from the lower edges of the skewbacks,.are bent inwardly to form lower flanges, to. Upper flanges, a", are also rolled upon the girders similarly to those of ordinary I-beams. The girders which ad join the side wal s, 13, of the building are single-that is to say, have an upper flange, a skewback, and a lower flange, on one side only-and the remaining girders are double,or composed of two such single girders riveted together, said double girders thus having The shape skewbacks and flanges on each side of their axes. The surfaces of the skewbacks and lower flanges of each girder are faced or covered with a series of skewback-tiles, 0, formed of fire-clay or other non-combustible material not a good conductor of heat, said tiles being composed of an upper inclined web or plate, 0, and a lower horizontal web, 0, the inner surfaces of said webs corresponding inlength and inclination with the faces of the skewbacks and lower flanges of the girders. The tiles 0 are properly luted at their joints, to prevent the access of air to the girders there at. An arch, D, which may be formed either of sections of brick or masonry (Z, as in Fig. 1, or of hollow-tile arch-pieces or voussoirs d, as in Figs. 2 and 5, is sprung from each skewback-tile O to that upon the adjacent face of the next girder, and upon the arches D there islaid abed orlaye'r of concrete or equivalent material, E, said bed inclosing and covering the portions of the girders A, which project above the skewbacletiles, and providing upon its top a level surface, on which maybe laid the planking F of the floor, for securing which wooden strips fmay be embedded in the top of the layer of concrete E. A tile flooring or a roof-covering may be laid upon the concrete with equal facility. \Vhere the arches D are formed of hollow tiles cf, as in Figs. 2 and 5, said tiles are, by preference, constructed as shown on a larger scale in Fig. at. The outer faces of the tiles (1 are curved, as required,to form, when united, the back of the arch, and their inner faces are straight and parallel with the cord of the segmental back, and are provided with a series of grooves or corrugations, d, to facilitate the attachment of the plastering b of the ceiling. The sides of the tiles d are recessed at (1 from their in ner toward their outer faces, for such distance as to provide abuttingsurfaccs d of a depth which is substantially uniform throughout the arch, and is sufficient to afford the area required for the transmission of the thrust there of to the skewbaeks at its respective ends. By such construction the inner portions of the hollow tiles are kept out of contact one with the other, and, being relieved from any strain due to the superincumbent weight, are more efficient in sustaining the plastering of the ceiling. The recesses (7. may further serve as air-passages, if desired, and where an arched ceiling is required, the inner faces of the tiles (1 are curved properly to form the intrados of the arch desired. The spaces between the 1 skewbacks a forin continuous air-passages,

scribed relation to the skewbacks and arches.

In the construction of the arches D there may be combined, if desired, with the members hereinbefore described, a lower series of flat tiles having curved perforated ribs on their backs, as in my Patent No. 223,275, before referred to, said flat tiles being supported by the skewback-tiles G, and serving to enable the curves of the arches to be turned, and to provide communicating air-chambers between their upper surfaces and the inner faces of the arches.

I claim herein as my invention 1. In a fire-proof construction, the combi nation of a metallic girder having a metal skewback formed on or secured to one of its sides, and a skcwback-tile facing of corresponding form fitting against the outer sur face of said skewback, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-proof construction, the combi nation of two or more metallic girders having 3. In a fire-proof construction, the combination of a series of metallic girders having metal skewbacks formed on or secured to their sides, skewback-tile facings covering said skewbaeks, arches sprung between and abutting on said skeWback-tile facings, and a bed of concrete or analogous material laid upon the tops of said arches and inclosing the girders above said skewback-tilc facings, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a metallic girder having a metal skewback formed on or secured to one of its sides, and a skewback-tile facing fitting against said skewback, and eX- tended beyond the same and below the base or lower flange of the girder, so as to form an air-passage between said base and its adjacent face, substantially as set forth.

5. A hollow tile-arch section for fire-proof constructions, having a curved outer face, a straight inner face, and recesses extending longitudinally along its sides from its inner toward its outer face, said recesses being so located as to prevent, throughout their surface, the contact of the arch-section with an adjacent section, when in position in an arch, substantially as set forth.

6. A skewback-facing tile for fire-proof constructions, composed of a horizontal web or plate adapted to fit beneath the base of a girder, and a vertically-inclined web adapted to fit against a skewback or inclined side on said girder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a fireproof construction, the combination of a series of metallic girders, metal skewbacks formed on or connected to said girders, and hollow tile arches sprung be tween said skewbacks, said arches having the abutting faces of their sections recessed at and adjacent to their lower sides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDXVAR-D M. BUTZ.

Vitnesses:

J. SNOWDEN BELL, R. II. VIIITTLESEY. 

